Table of Contents
Cold Sore Remedies
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DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
6 YEA
[YEA] Bobby from Houston, TX writes: "crushed garlic (it burns) on an outbreak works! You won't believe the results and how fast the ulcer heals."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 11/25/2007: Ronda from Shelburne, Canada writes: "I have found that breaking the sores (with fingernail clippers) to open them and applying Head & Shoulders shampoo is an incredible way to get rid of cold sores fast. You must open the sores, though, to get the shampoo directly inside them. Warning, it hurts like peroxide on cuts but it's worth it. If you do this at the first tingle, you can usually keep the sores from developing at all. Apply it often. Then, once the sores are scabs, use polysporin to heal them very quickly."
04/14/2009: Varick from Brooklyn, NY replies: "Head and Shoulders shampoo has zinc in it, zinc has been known to help prevent and/or cure herpes."
04/14/2009: Jennifer from Phoenix, AZ replies: "Hello, to respond and add to your message about herpes, if you use iodine at the first sign of tingling or itching, no cold sores will develop at all and if they do, no scabbing , no swelling , i dont know what is in iodine that doesn't allow the whole inflamation to develop. You can easily get rid of the sore before it develops in 1 - 2 days. Eat healthy, take vitamin C, if you feel it coming on, take echinacea, it never failed me, it stops the cold sores from developing. If you follow this protocol, you can minimize to stop outbreaks altogether."
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1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 10/15/2009: Jane from Hamilton, New Zealand writes: "I had been getting coldsores regularly for the past twenty years. I also managed to unwittingly infect my four year old son with them. We were getting them every six weeks at least. A homeopath recommended the homeopathic remedy Natrum Muriaticum. I didn't wait for our next outbreak, just took three pilules four times a day for about three days. My son and I have been coldsore free for two years...until this week after a day's skiing I had my first outbreak (skiing for some reason has always given me the worst coldsores). That's why I'm on this site searching for quickfire remedies as the homeopathic remedy is helping but not fast enough for a quick cure. However I recommend it as a way to prevent their recurrence."
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3 YEA
02/15/2010: American from Virginia Beach, Virginia writes: "Hello,
You said on your website that apple cider vinegar works for cold sores. Sorry, it doesn't. At least, not for me.
What DOES work is honey, which is known for its ability to promote wound healing. Just keep smearing it on the cold sore - and yes, it is a sticky, gooey mess. But boy, does honey ever work!"
EC: Earth Clinic said that? Don't think so... However, a few of our readers have indeed reported success with apple cider vinegar for cold sores here: http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/herpes.html#ACV
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[YEA] 02/10/2009: Vic from Agadir, Morocco writes: "Honey for Cold Sores: I had this horible Cold Sore all over my mouth together with cracked and chapped lips and nothing seemed to help. Thought about hearing something about honey being used to heal such issues. Tried it and my mouth is almost healed after just 24 hours. MIRACULOUS!!!"
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[YEA] 01/26/2009: Sara from Albertville, Alabama USA writes: "I have used HONEY to stop and cure cold sores for years. Honey is a natural virus killer. Also bacteria. When I read about honey i didn't believe it but tried it when I started getting the next cold sore. Lo and behold it never went beyond the first little blister-stopped the pain and itching instantly. When I first feel one coming on I dab honey on it and it never gets worse and is gone within 2/3 days. Dab on often-3/4 times a day. It also works on gastrointestinal virus- I work in a nursing home and we are constantly getting that bug. When I feel a little nauseaed I go home and take a big spoon of honey and have only gotten it once in 4 years and that was when I didn't take the honey! I believe n natural cures and believe that God gave us all we need to cure disease in nature."
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[YEA] 06/13/2007: Peter from Paris, France writes: "I have been under treatment for years for Herpes Whitlow on my right hand, which occasionally manifests itself on my palette and genitals. I have always tested negative for herpes 2, and assumed my outbreaks are weird manifestations. Doctors here have never seen this combination of symptoms. They were debilitating until I started self immunizing my cat and pollen allergies with daily dose of different honeys, and cutting out practically all refined sugars in my diet. Whereas I would have an outbreak every twelve months on a maintenance dose of 500mg of Zelitrex daily (quadrupled during outbreaks) the last two outbreaks have been restricted to my finger and palette - a great improvement over previous ones. I feel the honey is helping my immune system suppress the virus, perhaps by keeping my immune system on alert all the time. I have upped my daily dosage of Zeleitrex to 15 mg, and would appreciate any comments from others who have found Honey a satisfactory palliative."
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14 YEA
1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[YEA] 02/01/2010: Baz2010 from Newburgh, Ny, Usa writes: "Last night a cold sore began to develop on my lip. I read on Earth Clinic to use hydrogen peroxide. I used cotton swabs and applied the peroxide to my lip. I did this using 5 separate swabs over a one hour period. I noticed immediate results within that hour. This morning I did the same and just did it again when I got home from work. The cold sore seems to be in its final stages and should be gone by tomorrow. I have used Abreva and saw the same results over 4-5 days. Peroxide worked for me and did so a lot faster."
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[YEA] 08/07/2009: Sara from Miami, Florida writes: "Last Monday I had a cold sore outbreak in my upper lip (I started feeling the tingly sensation) , so immediately I looked for remedies in this website and I opted to use the Hydrogen Peroxide. Let me tell you it is a wonderful remedy for cold sore, by wednesday the cold sore was completely dry and it got never bigger than half size of a lentil bean. I had outbreaks before (usually when I am stressed) and it was a nightmare, the cold sore lasted for weeks ( I am not kidding) and it got as big as half of my upper lip. The treatment is extremely easy and cheap: damp a q-tip or cotton swab with the HP and apply to the area as many times as you can. i did it every 3 hours. Thanks earth clinic for such helpful information"
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[YEA] 08/04/2009: Jg from Oakland, California writes: "First of all I would like to thank all of you who've shared your experiences and comments. Last Thursday night I felt some tingling around my mouth so I decided to go and get some Abreva, (silly me). I went to bed hoping it would not get one. The next morning I woke up with some small blisters on the top corner of my lip, (I had to call in sicked). By Friday afternoon the blisters had spread to my side of my mouth and it was now almost now the size of a quarter. This was the first time I had a sore that big. I was desperate and didn't know what to do. I could not show up to work on monday with a sore that big.
That's when I decided to do some internet research and I ran into this site! I read on some of your Hydrogen peroxide success stories and decided to try it. I had my wife go to the store and get a small bottle of it. I poked the blisters with a needle and then held a cotton ball soaked in Peroxide for as long as I could. I then, covered the soar with a ___ ( you can find this at you local pharmacy) this is a gel. The gel will harden and won't let the soar get any air. (the virus can't continue to grow without air). After a few hours I carefully remove the gel by rubbing peroxide on it. I repeated this process every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day. Did the same thing all day Saturday. By Sunday night, All I had was a scab. I put some chap stick on the hard scab to make it soft and remove it. Monday morning, I used some on my wife's make up to cover the redness of my skin. You could hardly tell I had something there. This is the quickest I've been able to get rid of a cold sore! Thanks to you all!!"
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[YEA] 06/23/2009: Amber from Washington, DC writes: "I had never gotten cold sores before and this was the first time. It was horrible i had 3 HUGE cold sores on and around my lips. i waited 2 weeks and they didn't go away. i used pills and creams but nothing worked. I read here to use hydrogen peroxide and i figured what could i lose i already look horrible and i had 1 day befoe i was leaving to europe for 2 weeks. basically it works wonders! i had yellow puss dried up for about 5 days and it hadn't fallen off yet. the HP dissolved the dried puss and made it easier for me to pick off. some of the sores were still open so i put the hydrogen peroxide on( it burned like nothing else) it didn't puss over again it just dried out. now i have red skin but thats it. i can at least go out in public now"
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[YEA] 06/02/2009: Sarah from Cape Cod, MA writes: "Hydrogen Peroxide cleared up my cold sore in 48 hours. I was and AM sick of paying for Abreva, etc...when it takes over a week to do anything at all. I never suffered from cold sores until the age of 22, and since then they have been directly related to the change in my hormones prior to getting my period. So, from 22 until now (almost 3 years), I've almost consistently had to deal with the annoyance/pain/discomfort of them. So, in a desperate search for a better answer, I came to your website (which has helped me a lot in the past), and 48 hours later I'm 90% cleared up! It's amazing, it went from appearing, to drying, to scabbing, to healing in no time at all. Thanks so much everyone for your input!"
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[YEA] 09/22/2008: Shelly from Middlebury, Vermont writes: "I currently have an outbreak (the second one in 2 weeks) and I used peroxide on my second one after the first day. I didn't catch it in time but I'm finding that using the peroxide only 2 times has prevented it from really blistering and scabbing over too much. I popped the blister and drained it with a tissue and then used a qtip to dab it on a few times. It seems to take out the infection and dry it up faster. I'm going to continue applying peroxide every few hours and see how it works. I think if I'd have done this quicker, it wouldn't have blistered out quite so much. But it's less sightly than it would normally be."
[YEA] 01/27/2009: Lauren from Whitehorse, YT replies: "I have used peroxide for the last 3 years. Before that my doctor gave me this cream to put on but it didn't work. And abreva never worked for me either. And a family friend told me that she uses a needle to pop the little blisters, if its just forming and there are no little blisters visible, then she just poked holes in it, as much as she could stand, then she would use a q tip and dab on peroxide. It really works. I use the spray on peroxide myself. I prefer it, i just hold a Kleenex under the cold sore and spray it. And i keep spraying over and over until it stops foaming. And as for dieting to help, taking calcium pills will help. Also when its forming get some milk dip a cloth into it and press it against the cold sore, it should stop it from getting any bigger. The virus is always there, never gone, but it is contained by calcium like a big bubble, and when your stressed or sick, the walls of the bubble fade and weaken, then the virus gets out. So take lots of calcium! It does help. And any time i forget to take my pills, i get a damn cold sore!"
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 03/21/2009: K from Atlanta, GA replies: "Using peroxide on gential herpes at the sign of itching is a sure way of stopping the itch and speeding up the healing process. Have used it and it does work. Must try the other remedies I have read about."
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[YEA] 09/23/2007: Anne from Brooklyn, NY writes: "Hydrogen Peroxide is my no fail solution to a cold sore. I always rub on my entire lip area with a soaked cotton ball at any sign of tingle, the tingle goes away. The moment I have a cold sore, I drench it in the peroxide and I normally start scabbing in a day or two. It is the best remedy to an outbreak I have found!!!"
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[YEA] 05/28/2007: Renee from El Dorado, Kansas writes: "My vanity for white teeth found me reaching for the peroxide 16 years ago. A side affect was that I was no longer experiencing cold sores (approx 6 a year). My regime was brushing teeth, gums, and tongue with peroxide a couple times a week. When I forgot to do this, the tingling sensation of an outbreak reminded me to do the peroxide treatment and no cold sore surfaced. There have been a few times that I was out of peroxide and got the cold sore but it was gone within 2 days of getting peroxide and the sore was very mild. Apply directly in addition to brushing the entire mouth. I've had two cold sores in the last 15 years. The one during my divorce and the other after getting unjustly fired from my job. Both were mild attacks."
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[YEA] 03/17/2007: Lee from Salem, NH writes: "I have always used hydrogen peroxide for skin infections, insect bites, cankers, cold sores & deleting blood stains. Results are quick & inexpensive. I dab it on my finger, straight from the bottle, to apply to a cold sore or canker. I have never had a cold sore for more than a day. When I was a teenager, I also applied some to any pimples that might crop up."
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[YEA] 10/15/2006: Faith from Jamaica writes: "Just want to join in singing the praises of Hydrogen Peroxide (HP). I presented with vaginal ulcers. I call then that because even thought they looked like herpes i tested negative for the disease - so i really don't know what i had. However i visited your site and decided to try the HP topically to my genital bumps and.......almost immediate relief from the itching and soreness! and the bumps disappeared within three days or so. So i just wanted to add my little bit and thanks you for your great website! U can feel free to publish this on the site."
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[YEA] 04/17/2006: Alex writes: "It works; I started using it with the early symptoms, like five times a day. It stopped it from coming out."
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[YEA] AJ from Bamberg, SC writes: "I used to get outbreaks on my lip at least a couple times a year with an unsightly scab that lasted about a week. I went through a period where I got them once a month like clockwork and it gave me plenty of chances to try all the remedies. Here are things that DON'T work.... Lysine, Bleach, Lysol, Abreva.... Here is the one that works... As soon as there is a blister, poke it with a pin and drain it. Then soak a small tissue in Hydrogen Peroxide and hold the tissue in over the blister site for at least two hours. After doing this, I have only had 2 outbreaks in 5 years and both were kept so small, that they were not even visible to others and no scab to follow."
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[YEA] T from Raleigh, North Carolina writes: "I found that using hydrogen peroxide to clean the affected area helped to speed up the healing process for cold sores. It stings, but after doing this for two days, my cold sore healed quickly!"
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1 YEA
1 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
[YEA] Nancy from Phoenix, AZ writes: "I haven't tried this remedy yet but am and will keep you posted as soon as I find out the results...The remedy is DMSO and Hydrogen peroxide from a book called Never an Outbreak by William Fharel. This combo is supposed to kill the herpes virus in your body where it lays dormant ... so you NEVER break out again...I have had cold sores for years and those remedies with just the hydrogen peroxide or just some other remedy putting it on the cold sore and trying to stop the virus once it starts a break out doesn't work...I have tried everything there is but the DMSO and Hydrogen peroxide... According to the book, you will never get another break out again. That is a cure...not just getting rid of the lesions but the virus from your body totally...He also discusses that this also gets rid of the mole virus...yeah, I didn't know moles were viruses but I have them all over... Anyway, it is worth looking into... I welcome feedback from anyone who has done the DMSO and hydrogen peroxide therapy.."
[BETTER BUT NOT CURED] 08/18/2008: NONE YA BIZZ from FT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA replies: "HI I AM FROM FLORIDA AND I HAVE TRIED DMSO AND H2O2 BY MIXING TOGETHER AND PUTTING ON A VERY LARGE BANDAGE AND LEAVE FOR A FEW HOURS AT A TIME I HAVENT HAD A BREAK OUT YET BUT ITS ONLY BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND I HAVE NOT YET BEEN TESTED AGAIN AND PLUS I DONT EVEN KNOW IF IM DOING IT RIGHT BUT I DO KNOW DMSO AND H2O2 IS LESS COSTLY ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!! I ALSO DOUCH WITH H2O2 TRY IT OF COURSE DILUTE IT ALOT AND USE 35% FOOD GRADE 3% AINT BOUT S--T I FEEL THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO THE CURE BUT NEXT MONTH IM GETTING H2O2 THERAPY IN MILTON FL THE CONSULTATION IS 300 VERY EXPENSIVE I DONT YET KNOW THE COST OF THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE THAT CONSIST OF PUTTING H2O2 IN A IV WISH ME LUCK IF IT WORKS I WILL MAKE A WEB SIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHO SUFFER AND IT WILL BE FREE ONLY THE DEVIL WOULD MAKE MONEY OFF OF PEOPLES PAIN AND REMEMBER IT WILL BE CALLED THE FREE REAL CURE TO HERPES!!!!!!!!!"
02/19/2009: Rob from SRB, FL replies: "I have had a terrible time with Cold Sores on my lower lip. I noticed a couple of posts about the cure listed above. Is there anyway to contact these individuals about their results? Thanks in advance!"
EC: People generally don't send in their email addresses on herpes feedback. Best to leave your questions here in case they return!
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2 YEA
1 SIDE EFFECT
[YEA] 10/21/2006: Jason from Little Rock, AR writes: "I used lysine supplements already to cure HSV 1. I'd had some success using it and also used facial masks off and on to try to help clean my skin. I tried the combo of Hydrogen Peroxide and crushed lysine. This eliminated my symptoms almost instantly. After trying it and getting 7 hours sleep, my lesions were gone, healed and there wasn't a trace of anything on my face!! Highly recommended!"
[SIDE EFFECTS] 09/28/2008: Jay from San Francisco, California replies: "Today, i mixed the 3% Hydrogen Peroxide with L-lysine together to make a paste, then i applied it onto my cold sore, a few minutes later, my cold sore gets bigger and more red, any suggestions about whats going on and if its helping?"
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[YEA] 02/26/2006: Anonymous from Kansas City, Missouri writes: "To cure herpes break outs, simply crush lysine tablets up into powder, mix hydrogen peroxide with the powder, stir well, apply paste to lesions, the oxygen i the peroxide sinks deep in the skin to kill the virus, and the lysine acts as a "shield" to prevent it from coming back in the same spot, heals very rapidly. In order to kill the herpes virus, u must introduce oxygen into the blood, (or onto the affected area) oxygen will rid the virus. lysine helps with the destruction of the virus as well, and also keeps it in remission. Try this, this is guaranteed to work. also do a google search on BHT, (the next cure for herpes). BHT looks to be a breakthrough next to oxygen therapy."
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HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND TEA TREE OIL
[YEA] 06/29/2008: Cassie from Augusta, GA writes: "ACV or Tea Tree Oil to cure cold sores.
I used ACV on a q-tip pressing firmly, and repeated several times throughout the day. This began to dry up the cold sore on my upper lip after only a few hours...however, it caused a bit of skin irritation around the area which kind of defeated the purpose (i have very sensitive skin). So the next day I switched to tea tree oil applied with a q-tip (making sure to use new q-tips for each application). Cold sore is almost completely dried and the irritation from the ACV is dissapearing."
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[YEA] 09/09/2006: Debra from Philadelphia, PA writes: "Cold sores/fever blisters I've been suffering with this problem over & over for quite some time and wasn't having any luck with the OTC stuff or Valtrax for that matter. I tried the H2O2 on its own & mixed with a crushed up L-Lysine tab (took FOREVER to crush into powder) the last time this happened but this time it seemed to come back stronger than ever. In a true moment of desperation I put 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) into a dixie cup full of H2O2 grabbed some q-tips and (one by one never re-using) applied it to the cold sore over and over and over and over. I pressed the q-tip up against it hard and massaged it in. I swabbed my lips with it and the inside of my mouth. This process took about an hour but by the time I stopped the cold sore had gone from itching, oozing & weeping to white "bubbles" to dry crust/scab. I think I may start using TTO, baking soda & H2O2 as my new toothpaste and baking soda w TTO as my new "soap"!"
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